These, however, are only a few of the many facts that might be adduced from the surveys already made to show how important it is to the question at issue that every necessary means to avail of the aids of science should be adopted in order to preserve scrupulously the direction specified in the treaty while tracing this line.  It must also be remembered that in the further prosecution of this duty a wilderness has to be traversed, totally uninhabited and totally without roads.  The only means of progressing through it and of transporting the necessary provisions and the instruments indispensable to accuracy will be by means of canoes, for supplying two or three depots at points where Grand River and the waters of the Restigouche intersect the line, leaving the whole transportation along the meridian to be performed by packmen, or men carrying burdens on their backs.  That the usual avenue to give an unimpeded view along the line must be opened through a dense forest, which in the neighborhood of all streams crossing it will still be found to consist of that swampy growth described in the report from the undersigned of the 4th of January instant as requiring so much labor to cut through it.

With all these circumstances in view, the following estimate for the completion of the survey of the meridian line and for some further surveys between that line and the source of the Aroostook is submitted; and it is intended to embrace the expense of completing both the field and the office wort that will require to be done in order to a final accomplishment of the duties: 

  Estimate for the meridian line.

  1.  Pay of 4 assistant engineers from May 1, 1842,
     to March 31, 1843, being 304 days, at $4 per day each $4,864.00

  2.  Pay of 3 other assistant engineers from May 1, 1842,
     to December 31, 1842, being 275 days, at $3 per day each 2,475.00

  3.  Hire of 30 men as axmen, and for preparing, constructing,
     and erecting stations and signals in advance, from June 1
     to November 30, 1842, being 183 days, at $1 each per day 5,490.00

  4.  Hire of 30 other men as instrument carriers, chain
     bearers, canoe men, and packmen for 183 days, as
     above, at $1 per day each 5,490.00

  5.  Hire of 1 carpenter and 2 cooks 183 days, as above,
     at $1.25 per day each 686.25

  6.  Subsistence of 1 commissioner, 7 assistant engineers,
     1 carpenter, 2 cooks, and 60 men, as above, being in all
     71 persons, while in the field, 183 days at 50 cents per
     day each, including transportation of provisions to
     Grand Falls of St. John, or first depot 5,496.50

  7.  Purchase of barometers and repairs of instruments
     heretofore used 800.00